News

Current stories

Above normal bushfire potential is predicted for much of Australia over the coming months, according to the first national assessment from climatologists, meteorologists and fire agency staff.
Eucalypts are arguably the defining feature of Australia’s flora. There are more than 800 species of eucalypts and their range in Australia extends from sub-alpine areas, through wet and dry coastal forests, to temperate woodlands and the arid inland. There are only about 12 species of eucalypt that occur naturally outside Australia, and only two species are not found in Australia.
The mysteries of climate change are being explored across the high plains and mountain forests of Australia through a study trying to unravel the complex interaction among water yield, fire, drought and long term changes in climate.
Many wildland firefighter deaths and injuries in Australia and overseas have resulted from firefighters being surprised and overtaken by a fast-moving fire - both on foot and in vehicles, in both grass and forest environments.
Investigations into accidents or near miss events on the fireground mostly focus on finding out the details of what happened, with relatively little consideration given to the thoughts and mental processes driving the firefighters’ decisions.
A research review commissioned by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre has identified some important differences in the performance of different types of smoke alarms.
A unique mobile laboratory is measuring greenhouse gases in Australia’s high country. The fully-self contained laboratory is housed within a 4WD vehicle and trailer and includes sophisticated scientific equipment that takes continuous measurements of CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Australia has about 250,000 volunteer firefighters but for the past 30 years memberships have been declining. Fire agencies fear that if the decline persists a shortage of volunteer firefighters may emerge that degrades the provision of fire services.

Pages

In the media...

The Drum - ABC
Fri, 11/01/2013
Australian Conservation Foundation
Fri, 11/01/2013
HealthCanal.com
Thu, 10/01/2013
Castlemaine Independent
Thu, 10/01/2013
Asia Pacifc Fire
Thu, 10/01/2013
Today Tonight
Thu, 10/01/2013
Business Environment Network
Wed, 09/01/2013
Science Media Centre
Wed, 09/01/2013
The Mercury
Wed, 09/01/2013

Pages

Posted: 10 years 5 months ago

After 11 years, we are about to enter the last month of your Bushfire CRC. It has been an incredible journey since 2003.

For me, what has stood out the most, notwithstanding the ground breaking research, is the culture change the industry has undertaken throughout this period. At the heart of this has been the close partnership between the Bushfire CRC and AFAC. The...

Posted: 10 years 5 months ago

There is only a month left of the Bushfire CRC, but there is plenty of activity going on. The Research to Drive Change series has been launched, with two successful online forums held. Keep your eyes peeled to the...

Nathan Maddock's picture
Communications Officer

Recent FireNotes

Fire Note 137: In the 2003 Canberra bushfires, a number of unusual fires were observed in which bushfire spread sideways in a diagonal or crosswise direction to...

Fire Note 136: This Fire Note reports in more detail on the smoke dispersion modelling work undertaken as part of the Fire Impact and Risk Evaluation...

Fire Note 135: This Fire Note details research that estimates toxic emissions commonly encountered by firefighters extinguishing fires in semi-rural communities...

Fire Note 134: This Fire Note outlines research undertaken within the bushfire-prone communities of Roleystone and Kelmscott in the Perth Hills, about 45 minutes...

Fire Note 133: The national research featured in this Fire Note investigated the community and householder characteristics that contribute to bushfire preparedness in...

Fire Note 132: Offers a new way of thinking about bushfire preparedness and its measurement.  The study defines preparedness in terms of three householder goals:  stay and defend...

Fire Note 131: In October 2013, bushfires swept across parts of New South Wales, leaving a trail of destruction and loss. The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) commissioned the...

Fire Note 130: Features the findings of four research projects on the impact of fire on water quantity and quality, as well as changing carbon stores (above and below the ground...